Liquid feeding apparatus



March 25,1958` L, MIDGLEY 2,828,049

l LIQUID FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 28. 1956 2 Sheets-Sheetv 2 WMI [54 46 l INVENTOR. E/P/c 4 M/GLEY.

, Him/VE LIQUID FEEDING APPARATUS Eric L. Midgley, Salem, Mass., assigner to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania The present invention relates to a machine for the hori# zontalexhaust of low pressure discharge lamps and, more ptarticularly,l to a liquid feeding apparatus for such a mal. c1ne.` f" Y Elteretofore,y horizontal exhaust machines, such as disclosed and shownin U. S. Patent No. 2,726,799, issued December 13, i955, to E.` HJ Dodge et al. haveliquid dispensing devices, such as ,shown in U. S; Patent No. 2,699,279, issued January 11,`1955,'to E. H'. Dodge et al. carried by each head on the continuously rotating con-` veyor. Liquiddispensers of this type employ a sleeve which is rigidly mounted in one wall of a liquid reservoir and is provided with a metering orifice therein, and a bucket Vlimitedlyrotatably. mounted on thesleeve and pinned to a sleeve valve within the sleeve. Thcbucket is adapted to move intoV and out of the liquid "to pick up a quantity of liquid. in excess of the amount required to fill `the metering orifice in the sleeve. At the' desired time the bucket shears ofi the` metered quantity v`ofliquid in the metering orifice and aligns a delivery orificein the sleeve valve with the metering Vorifice to deliver the metered liquid to agchamber in alignment withithedischarge device to be charged. l g L i VDue to the small diameters of the delivery orifice. in the sleeve valve and the metering orifice-iu 'the fixed sleeve, these orifices often become clogged with dirt `or other` deleterious material and must beperiodically cleaned. dismantling of the liquiddispenser from the exhausthad and results in considerable expense anddelay. Further, owing to the large number of moving parts, namely. the sleeve valve, the fixed sleeve,` and bucket considerable' nited States Patent O This cleaning operation requires the complete n Wearis involved,v in the operation of the conventional liquid dispensers.,v in `addition,thevibration of Vtheconf tinuously moving exhaust machine often causes dirt to be lcomewwed ged between the bucket and the fixe'cl'sleeve, thus preventing the bucket from `rotating limitedly on the fixed sleeve to shear off the metered quantity of liquid and .to

align the delivery orifice with `the metering orifice.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a liquid feeding apparatus comprising a reservoir, a stationary mounting member removably mounted in said reservoir, metering member fixed on themounting member and a feeding orifice. The metering orifice of the metert ing member is. adapted during the movementof the oo nveyor of the exhaust machine to `move ntouregistry with the intake orifices to receive a measured charge of liquid 'andlater to moveintoregistry with the "feeding orifice to deliver said measured charge of liquid to. areceiving chamber: f F y, n i l t i y. i It iswaccordingly thefgenleral objectofthiuventioto provide "liquid, feeding' apparatus having a limited num',-

.ber`` of mov U parts thereinftotlius reducethe" I,

$28,049 Patented Mar. `25, 1958 r"ice tenance required and the wear in,` and increase the life of, the liquid feeding apparatus. i

A specific object is a liquid feeding apparatus which may be readily removed from a head of an exhaust ma chine, disassembled and cleaned.

-A further object is a liquid `feeding apparatus which provides positive alignment ofl the metering orifice and the feeding orifice. i

Still -further objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an exhaust head of a horizontal exhaust machine, which head carries the liquid feeding apparatus and is shown in the liquid unloading position.

Fig. v2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the liquid feedingapparatus in the liquid un= loading position and showing the readily removable stationary mounting member, the metering member and the counterweighted finned retaining member. Y

Fig. 3.is a vertical sectional view of the liquid feeding apparatus in lfour of the operating positions along its path of movement around the periphery of the rotating conveyor of the horizontal exhaust machine.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the liquid feeding apparatus in the liquid loading positon of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectionalrview of the liquid feeding apparatus along the line V-V of Fig. 4 in the direction of .the arrows and showing the fins of the counterweighted retaining member.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional View, similar to Fig. 5, along the line VI--VI` of Fig. 4 in the direction of the arrows and showing the metering memberand a portion of the retaining member. i

Fig. -7 is a vertical sectional view, similar to Figs. 5 and 6 along the line VII-VII of Fig. 4 in the direction of the arrows and showing the means for connecting the metering member to the mounting member.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the retaining member with a portion of one ofthe fins broken away to more clearly show the liquid inlet holes therein. i

Fig. 9 is a perspective View of the metering member.

Although the principles of the invention are broadly applicable to the feeding of a measured charge of any liquid, thel invention is usually employed for charging a dischargedevice, such as a` fluorescent lamp, with a predetermined amount of mercury and hence it has so been illustrated and will be so described.

With specific reference to the form of the invention illustrated in the drawings an exhaust headA orcompression rubber assembly 10, such as shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,254,905, issued September 2, 1941, to Daniel Mullan, is shown in Figs. l and 4. Since this compression rubber assembly 10, per se, forms no part of this invention it is sufficient to say that the cornpression rubber assembly 10 has a flanged body 12 provided with a right hand boss 14, as viewed in Fig. 4, which boss has an internal shoulder 16 and an internally threaded portion 18. The body 12 also has a left hand boss 2,0 having an externally threaded portion 22 in engagement with an operating cap 24. Clockwise rotay tion, as viewed in Fig. 4, of the cap 24 on a ball bearing 26 `by means of an operating handle 28 moves a tubulation guide 30 inwardly against a compression rubber 32 f' to compress the rubber 32 against the body 12 anda tubulation receiving collar 34 and about a tubulation 36 of a discharge device 38 of the low pressure positive column type, such as a fluorescent lamp. To provide a stop for the tubulation 36 during the movement of the compression rubber :assembly 10 to the left, as viewed in Figs. 1, 4 to receive the tubulation 36, a-flanged sleeve 40 has its left hand shank .portion slidably sup Y *A Y ported .by the right .hand end, .0.f theollar `21.4 ,audits f middle anged portion 42 s lidable in the bore of the boss 14 and, as shown in Fig. 4, Vnormally resting against the shoulder ,161 The sleeve-40 ;is slidable .to the left, as viewed in Figs. 2, 4 to eject ,the culletipQltion of the tubulation v36 lfrom the compression rubber assembly 10 after :the tipoil of the exhausted discharge 1dev.ic e-38. For the purpose of transferring the measured gckiarge :of liquid from a mounting member ,44 of `the liquid feeding apparatus `to the tubulation 36, -thisl jxed sleeve 4 9 extends beyond the boss 14 of the Ybody .12.

While various means may be utilized to mount the compression rubber assembly 10, `the form of the inven- Y hanged portions of the body 12 and are reciprocable .in Y

suitable bearings 48 .(Fig. 1),"which bearings 48 .are aiiXed :to the periphery of .a continuously rotating conv eyor 50 o f -a horizontal yexhaust machine, .of `the type shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,726,799, issued yDecember 1,3, 1955, to E. H. Dodge et al. To. provide reciprocating means for these rods 46,each of the mount rods. 46 is connected by an arm 52 to .an operating rod 54 .which .is reciprocable by conventional means such Vas a lever (not shown) in engagement with a cani .(not shown) on the main cam shaft (not shown) ofthe exhaust machine.

As shown in Figs. l, 4.and 5, the Vliquid feeding apparatus has a reservoir 56 secured by a plurality o f bolts 57, forexample four are shown in Fig. 5, to the flanged portion of the body 12. A resilient ring gasket '8 between the reservoir 56 and the bod-y 12 secures a quantity of liquid, such-as mercury 60, therein. This reservoir 56 `is provided with a gas inlet aperture 62 connected by a lgas line 64 to a suitable inert gas supply, such as argon (not shown), anda liquid lling aperture 66 sealed by a threaded ll cap V68. Y Y

The mounting member 44 (Figs. l2-7) is employed to tixedly mount thereon a metering member 70 androtatably support thereon a retaining member 72. The member 44 is -provided with Va receiving chamber` 74 which chamber 74 opens into the adjacent hollow portion of the sleeve V40. This receiving chamber 74 is Vcommunicable with the outer periphery ofthe Vmounting member 44 by means of a deliveryV orice 76 and has'fa gas inlet orifice 78 in registry with the outlet end or" the aperture 62. As a means of Xedly securing the mounting member 44 to the body l2 a threaded left hand portion 8,0, as viewed in'Fig. 4, of the mounting member 44 is normally i-nlixedV engagementwith the threaded pertion 18 of 4the boss 14 ofthe body 12. 'To secure the' metering member 70 to the mounting-member 44 a pin 82, projecting radially from the peripheryY of the mount- Ahas stabilizing fins 95j, disposed about .the inlet orices 90 and projecting from the outer faces, as viewed in Fig. 8, of the retainingmember.

The metering member 70 (Figs. 2, 4, 7 and 9) is a ysolid disc having, in Vaddition to the center mounting hole 86 and the pin engaging slot 84, an upwardly inclined'metering orifice 96, as viewed in Figs. 4, 9, for receiving the desired'amoun't of Vmercury 60 through the inlet orifices 90 in the retaining member 72 when said members 70, 72 are in the loading position shcwn'in Figs. 3, 4. During 'the clockwise movement, as viewed in Fig. 3, of the conveyor 50, the metering orice 96 in the metering .member 70 and the delivery orificeV 76 in the .mounting member 44 .alwaysremain aligned with each other on an extension of a radius of the conveyor 50.

One of the features of the liquid feeding apparatus is the ease with vwhich vthe liquid feedingfapparatus mail be diSaSsembled for cleaning :or maintenance purposes. Preparatory .to the removal :of .the reservoir 56 from the compression rubber assembly 10, the operator stops the conveyor` 50 when Ythe .assembly 10 fis .in the position shown in Fig. 4, removes the threaded ll cap A68 from the reservoir 56 and permits the mercury 60 to llow out of thetaperture 66 in the reservoir 56. The operator then removes Vthe bolts 57 yfrom the hanged portion of the body 12 and removes `the reservoir 56 from the compression rubber assembly 10. Counterclockwise rotation, ras viewed in Fig. 4, of the mounting member 44 disengages the member 44 from the threaded portion 18 of the boss 14 of the body 12. While holding the retaining member 72 lin one hand the operator then aligns the slot 84 in the mounting member 44 and the slot 88 in the retaining member 72 and moves the member 44 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 2,.to remove the pin 82 from the slots 84, 88 and `to Withdraw the member 44 from the members 70, 72. The metering member 70 may then be withdrawn from the slotted bottom portion, as viewed in Fig. 8,

'Y ofthe retaining member- 72 for the individual cleaning of the members 70, 72.

After cleaning, the conveyor 50 is moved to the liquid unloadingV position of'Fig. 3, the metering member 70, retaining member 72 and mounting member 44 are reassembled, the mounting member reinserted in the body 12, the reservoir 56 secured to the body 12, and the reservoir' 56 V charged with mercury 60 and sealed by a reversal of the above describedprocedure.

When the liquid feeding apparatus is in the liquid Vloading position, shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, the metering orifice 96 in the metering member 70 is in registry with the inlet orifices 90 in the retaining member 72 and a A metered amount of mercury 60 isreceived Within Vthe ing member 44, engages a radial slot 84 (Fig. 9) pro- I vided in a center mounting hole 86 ofv Vthe metering member 70.

To counterweight the lowerportiongof theretaining member 72 and to permit the'Y insertion of theV metering member 770 therein, the retaining member 7 2 (Figs. 2, 4, 5-8) is handily a hollowl disc having an annulariy slotted bottom portion, Vas viewedl in Fig. 8, and abifurcated upper portion. This retaining member 72 is providedv withy a center mounting hole 87, theright hand portion, as viewed in Fig. 8, of which has a clearance i s1`ot88 for the insertion` a-nd withdrawalfof thepin 82; .a

pair of registering yinlet orices 90 in the-lower portion, asviewed in Figs. 4, 8 thereof; a downwardly inclined venting orifice 92 located in the left handy bifurcation of themember 72, diametrically opposite tothe inlet orifices 90; and a feeding orifice 94 located in the' rightyhand bifurcation of the member 72 in inclined registry with the venting orifice 92 andV Inova-ble into4 registry with `the delivery orifice 76 in the; mounting member 44'.. To further assure thev maintenance ofthe inlet orifice 90' of the counterweighted retaining member 72 in thedfown positionv shown in- Figs; 2-7, the retaining mernber 72 Y moved- 180 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3,

from the liquid loading. position to the. liquid unloading position, thel metering orifice 96 is then in .registry with the ventingforice- 92 and theV upper portion of the feeding orifice 94 in Ythe retaining member 72 and the delivery orifice 76 inthe mounting member 44 `is* in registry with the bottom portion of the feeding orifice 94, ythuspermitting the metered amount of mercury 60 contained in the metered orice 96 to gravitationally roll down the feeding orice 94 through the delivery orifice 76v and into the receiving'chamber 74 of the mounting member 44. A blastvof inert gas through the gas line 64v and inlet .aperture 62 in thereservoir' 56 and the-gas `inlet'- orifice of mercury 60 through the bore of the flanged sleeve 40, and the tubulation 36 into the discharge device 38. Further, clockwise rotation, as viewed in Fig. 3, of the conveyor 50 moves the metering orifice 96 from the liquid unloading position to the liquid loading position, whereinV the metering orifice 96 is once again in registry with the inlet orifices 90 of the retaining member 72 and the liquid feeding cycle is repeated.

Although a preferred embodiment has been disclosed it will be understood that modifications may be made within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A liquid feeding apparatus comprising a reservoir adapted to contain a quantity of liquid, a mounting member fxedly mounted in a wall of said reservoir and provided with a delivery orifice, a metering member fixedly mounted on said mounting member and provided with a metering orifice, and a retaining member rotatably mounted on said mounting member and provided with an intake orifice and a feeding orifice, said metering orifice being movable into and out of said quantity of liquid and into and out of registry with said intake orifice to receive a measured quanttiy of liquid and also being movable into registry with said feeding orifice to feed said measured liquid through said delivery orifice.

2. A liquid feeding apparatus comprising a reservoir adapted to contain a quantity of liquid, a mounting member fixedly mounted in a wall of said reservoir and provided With a delivery orifice, a metering member fixedly mounted on said mounting member and provided with a metering orifice of predetermined volume, and a retaining member rotatably mounted on said mounting member and provided with an intake orifice and a feeding orifice, said metering member being movable to bring said metering orifice into and out of said quantity of liquid and into and out of registry with said intake orifice to receive a measured quantity of liquid and said metering member also being movable to bring said metering orifice into registry with said orifice to feed said measured liquid through said delivery orifice.

3. A liquid feeding apparatus comprising a reservoir Within which a quantity of liquid is disposed, a mounting member fixedly mounted in a wall of said reservoir and provided with a delivery orfiice and a receiving chamber, a metering member fixedly mounted on said mounting member and provided with a metering orifice, and a retaining member rotatably mounted on said mounting member and provided with a first intake orifice, a venting orifice, a second intake orifice and a feeding orifice, said metering orifice being movable into and out of said quantity of liquid and into and out of registry with said intake orifices to receive a measured quantity of liquid and also being movable into registry with said feeding orifice and said venting orifice to feed said measured liquid through said delivery orifice into said chamber.

4. A liquid feeding apparatus comprising a reservoir within which a quantity of liquid is disposed, a mounting member removably mounted in a wall of said reservoir and provided with a delivery orifice and a receiving chamber, a metering member slidable Ionto and fixedly mounted on said mounting member and provided with a metering orifice, a retaining member rotatably mounted on said mounting member and provided with an intake orifice and a feeding orifice, said metering orifice being movable into and out of said quantity of liquid and into and out of registry with said intake orifice to receive a measured quantity of liquid and also being movable intoy member fixedly mounted in a wall of said reservoir and provided with a delivery orifice and a receiving chamber, a metering member fixedly mounted on said mounting member and provided with a metering orifice, a retaining member rotatably mounted on said mounting member and provided with a first intake orifice, a venting orifice, a second intake orifice and a feeding orifice, said metering orifice being movable -into and out of said quantity of liquid and into and out of registry with said intake orifices to receive a measured quantity of liquid, and also being movable into registry with said feeding orifice and said venting orifice to feed said measured liquid into said chamber, means o-n said retaining member for maintaining said intake orifices in the liquid fill position to seal off said measured quantity of liquid during movement of said metering member and means for introducing said measured quantity of liquid into a discharge device.

6. A liquid feeding apparatus comprising a reservoir Within which a quantity of liquid is disposed, a mounting member xedly mounted in la Wall of said reservoir and provided with a delivery chamber, a metering member fixedly mounted on said mounting member and provided with a metering orifice, a retaining member rotatably mounted on said mounting member and provided with an intake orifice and a venting orifice, and `a second retaining member rotatably mounted on said mounting member and provided with a second intake orifice and a feeding orifice, said metering orifice being movable into and out of said quantity of liquid and into and out of registry with said intake orifices to receive a measured quantity of liquid and also being movable into registry with said feeding orifice and said venting orifice to feed ,said measured liquid into said chamber.

7. A liquid feeding apparatus comprising a reservoir IWithin which a quantity of liquid is disposed, a mounting member fixedly lmounted in a wall of said reservoir and provided with a delivery orifice and a receiving chamber, a metering member fiXedly mounted on said mounting member and provided with a metering orifice, a retaming member rotatably mounted on said mounting member and provided with a first intake orifice, a venting orifice, a seco-nd intake orifice and a feeding orifice, said metering orifice being movable into and out of said quantity of liquid an-d into and out of registry with said intake orifices to receive a measured quantity of liquid and also being movable into registry with said feeding orifice and said venting orifice -to feed said measured liquid through said delivery orifice into said chamber, means on said retaining member for maintaining said intake orifices in the liquid fill position and `to seal off said measured quantity of liquid during movement of said metering member and means for introducing said measured quantity of liquid from said chamber into a liquid receiving device.

8. A mercury feeding apparatus `comprising a reservoir Within which a quantity of mercury is disposed, a mounting member fixedly mounted in a wall of said reservoir and provided with a delivery orifice and a receiving chamber, a metering member fixedly mounted on said mounting member and provided with a metering orifice, a retainingmember rotatably mounted on said mounting member and provided with an intake orifice, a venting orifice, a second intake orifice and a feeding orifice, said metering orifice being movable into and out of said quantity of mercury and into and out of registry with said intake orifices to receive a measured quantity of mercury, and also being movable into registry with said venting orifice and said feeding orifice to feed said measured mercury through said discharge orifice into said chamber, means on said retaining member for maintaining said intake orifices in the mercury fill position to seal off said measured quantity of mercury during movement of said metering member and means for introducing said measured quantity of mercury from said chamber into a discharge device.

No references cited. 

